Foldable container

ABSTRACT

A container movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The container comprises a substantially rectangular base panel, four side walls hingedly connected to each other and to the base panel, a median fold line crossing opposite two of the four side walls and the base panel so that each of the opposite side walls and the base panel are foldable along the median fold line, and two bottom fold lines formed on the base panel and extending substantially diagonally across the base panel so that the base panel is also foldable along the bottom fold lines. The side walls of the container have top edges defining an open top of the container. The container is formed of a substantially flat, single-piece blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to containers in general, andmore particularly, to a foldable container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In an office, store, merchandising or any other environment, manydifferent types of containers are abundantly used for collecting andstoring various articles. Typically, known prior art container devicesare of a totally rigid, noncollapsible construction and, importantly,few of the known devices are designed to be transported in adisassembled state for ease of portability, while providing a designwhich is easy to assemble on-site. A totally rigid construction makesthe known devices bulky, awkward and difficult to transport from onelocation to another. Moreover, the containers of a truncated pyramidshape, which are highly desirable as vases due to their stability, aredifficult to make in a rigid form (the open neck being narrower than thebase). Therefore, there exists a need for an inexpensive containerassembly, especially of a truncated pyramid shape, which can be easilyand conveniently employed in a wide variety of environments, bothindoors and outdoors, which container assembly can be stored and shippedin a compact, flat folded package and can be easily and readilyassembled.

Furthermore, flowers are among the most often given and most widelyappreciated gifts. However, it is not always possible to quickly obtaina vase. The flowers can therefore not be put in water immediately, andthe durability of the often expensive bouquet decreases. This situationis known for example from a sick-visit in a hospital, where there oftenis a shortage of vases. Another example may be receptions where thenumber of flower bouquets can be very large, but the possibility ofputting the flowers in water is missing. For this reason, many flowergivers thus settle for cellophane or paper-wrapped flowers with a tiestring, together with a plain note card. This is typically a leaky andunimpressive manner of presentation, albeit inexpensive. It would bepreferable to present flowers with an attractive, convenient, anddecorative vase that even has an appropriate theme for the occasion, yetis inexpensive.

Folding paper containers are known in the prior art for holding orcarrying objects. While known foldable containers, have proven to beacceptable for various applications, such devices are neverthelesssusceptible to improvements that may enhance their performance and lowercost. With this in mind, a need exists to develop improved foldablecontainers that advance the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda container intended to hold a liquid and formed of a single-piece sheetof a stiff but foldable material. The container of the present inventionis movable between an expanded position and a folded position. Thecontainer comprises a substantially rectangular bottom wall defined byfour sides thereof, and four side walls hingedly connected to each otherand to the bottom wall. The side walls include first and second pairs ofopposite side walls. The container if the present invention furthercomprises a median fold line crossing the second pair of opposite sidewalls and the bottom wall so that each of the opposite side walls andthe bottom wall are foldable along the median fold line, and two bottomfold lines formed on the bottom wall and extending substantiallydiagonally across the bottom wall so that the bottom wall is foldablealong the bottom fold lines.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda blank for forming a foldable container. The blank of the presentinvention is formed from a substantially flat single-piece sheet offoldable material and comprises a substantially rectangular base panelhaving four sides, four side panels radially outwardly extending fromcorresponding sides of the base panel and separated therefrom by fourbase fold lines defining the four sides of said base panel, and foursets of web panels each provided between each two of the side panels.Each of the sets of web panels has a plurality of web panels hingedlyconnected to each other along web fold lines. The four side panelsinclude first and second pairs of opposite side panels. The blank of thepresent invention further includes a plurality of side fold linesradially outwardly extending from the bottom panel for separating thesets of web panels and the side panels, a median fold line crossing thesecond pair of opposite side panels and the base panel so that each ofthe second pair of opposite side panels and the base panel are foldablealong the median fold line, and two bottom fold lines formed on thebottom panel and extending substantially diagonally across the basepanel so that the base panel is foldable along the bottom fold lines.

With this invention, the foldable side walls can be imprinted, embossed,engraved, etched or otherwise decorated with indicia and can be easilyand simultaneously used as a sign to promote the sale of goods and/orservices in a commercial setting to promote an activity or event, or toconvey any particular message in an office or other environment. Becausethe foldable blank of this invention is easily manufactured and shipped,this enables a user to imprint a company logo, advertising promotionalmaterial, or any other message on the body panel and to display the samewhen the present device is utilized as a promotional container. Sincethe blank is made of a lightweight, preferably resilient or flexible,material as will be hereinafter explained, it can be easilymanufactured, transported and assembled for use as a container assembly.The present assembly affords a user a simple arrangement to assemble,particularly, in a commercial environment where one is promoting andmerchandising goods and/or services for short period of time with theconstant need to replace one advertisement with another in a simple andinexpensive manner.

Therefore, the present invention provides a foldable container which caneasily receive printing to promote goods and/or services, convey amessage or present a unique design. The construction and operation of acontainer assembly can be packaged, stored and shipped in asubstantially flat condition, and can be easily assembled without theuse of tools or other fastener means for assembling the same. It will beappreciated that the present invention presents a container of verysimple design and construction that is inexpensive to produce from asingle-piece blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma study of the following specification when viewed in light of theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in a fully deployed position;

FIG. 2A is a first side view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in the fully deployed position;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view from below of the container according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in the fully deployedposition;

FIG. 2C is a second side view of the container according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in the fully deployedposition;

FIG. 2D is a top view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in the fully deployed position;

FIG. 2E is a third side view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in the fully deployed position;

FIG. 2F is a fourth side view of the container according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in the fully deployedposition;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view from above of the container according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention in a partiallydeployed position;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view from below of the container according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention in the partiallydeployed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in a fully folded position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in the fully folded position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention in a partially folded position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a single-piece blank used to construct thecontainer according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8-10 schematically show successive stages in folding parts of theblank illustrated in FIG. 7 to form one of a first pair of side walls ofthe container according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention that comprises a plurality of plies of a sheet material of theblank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the illustrations for a better understanding of theinvention, it will be seen that this invention is a foldable containerindicated generally by reference numeral 2, which may be intended tohold a liquid, such as water, so as to act as a vase for flowers.

The container 2 of the present invention is movable between a deployed(or erected) position (or state) (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2F) anda folded (or collapsed) position (or state) (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and5). FIGS. 3A and 3 b show the perspective views of the container 2 in apartially deployed position, i.e. the intermediate stage close to befully erected, while FIG. 6 show the perspective views of the container2 in a partially folded position, i.e. the intermediate stage close tobe fully collapsed. In the upright position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2A-2F, the container 2 can stand stably upright on a flat surface (notshown), such as table or the like to hold water and act as the vase forflowers.

The container 2 is of a generally truncated pyramid shape in which thetruncated pyramid is a four side truncated pyramid having asubstantially rectangular, flat bottom wall 3 considerably larger thanan open top 14. Preferably, the bottom wall 3 is substantially square inshape. The container 2 further comprises a plurality of side walls 4, 5,6 and 7 hingedly connected to each other and to the bottom wall 3. Theside walls 4-7 have top edges 9 defining the open top 14 of thecontainer 2. The side walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the container 2 include afirst pair of the opposite side walls 4 and 6, and a second pair of theopposite side walls 5 and 7. Moreover, each of the second pair of theopposite side walls 5 and 7 is provided with a median fold line 96 sothat the side walls 5 and 7 are foldable along the median fold line 96.Each of the first pair of the opposite side walls 4 and 6 is notfoldable. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2D, 2E, 3A and 3B, the medianfold line 96 is formed on the second pair of the opposite side walls 5and 7 between the top edges 9 thereof and the bottom wall 3.Furthermore, the base panel 12 is provided with bottom fold lines 92, 94and 96 formed on the bottom wall 3 and extending substantially alongaxes of symmetry thereof so that the base panel is foldable along thebottom fold lines 92, 94 and 96.

The container 2 is formed from a blank 8 in the form of a single-piece,substantially flat sheet cut out from a sheet of any appropriaterelatively stiff but foldable material, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Forinstance, the blank 8 may be formed of a paper, a cardboard, a cellulosematerial, a sheet of plastic material, or any other appropriaterelatively stiff but foldable material. Preferably, the material of theblank 8 is printable, and may be provided with any appropriate logo oradvertisement printed or artistic design or written message or anycombination of the previous thereon.

Further preferably, the sheet of the blank 8 is liquid-proof orwater-proof (water-impermeable). However, the sheet of the blank 8 whichis not liquid-proof is also within the scope of the present invention.Examples of the liquid-proof material for the sheet of the blank 8 maybe a cellulose material, a paper or cardboard having a suitablewater-resistant layer of plastic (such as polyethylene or polyester)laminate on an inner side thereof. Alternatively, the blank 8 may beformed entirely of a plastic material. Moreover, the plastic material ofthe blank 8 may be waterproofed by a layer of coating of a water-proofemulsion thereon, and/or such emulsion may be incorporated into thestructure of the sheet material forming the blank 8, for example whilstthe sheet material is being manufactured. Also, the sheet of the blank 8may be laminated or coated in someway.

The blank 8 is indented or creased to form a plurality of fold (orcrease) lines depicted by dash lines in FIG. 7. The blank 8 according tothe present invention has a substantially polygonal outer periphery 10and is integrally formed with tabs 15 and 16 extending radiallyoutwardly from the outer periphery 10 of the blank 8 at twosubstantially diametrically opposed locations. In the blank 8, dashlines indicate fold (or crease) lines formed by grooves or linearindentations in the blank material. Moreover, the blank 8 includes asubstantially rectangular base panel 12 and four trapezoidal sidepanels: a first side panel 26, a second side panel 28, a third sidepanel 30 and a fourth side panel 32. The first side panel 26 and thethird side panel 30 define a first pair of the opposite side panels,while the second side panel 28 and the fourth side panel 33 define asecond pair of the opposite side panels. Preferably, the base panel 12is substantially square in shape. The base panel 12 is demarcated byfour base fold lines: a first base fold line 18, a second base fold line20, a third base fold line 22 and a fourth base fold line 24. Each ofthe base fold lines 18, 20, 22 and 24 defines a respective one of foursides of the rectangular base panel 12. In other words, the first basefold line 18 defines a first side of the base panel 12, the second basefold line 20 defines a second side thereof, the third base fold line, 22defines a third side thereof, and the fourth base fold line 22 defines afourth side thereof. Each of the side panels 26, 28, 30 and 32 radiallyoutwardly extends from the corresponding side of the base panel 12 andis separated therefrom by the base fold lines 18, 20, 22 and 24. Morespecifically, the first side panel 26 extends from the first side 18 ofthe base panel 12, the second side panel 28 extends from the second side20 thereof, the third side panel 30 extends from the third side 22thereof, and the fourth side panel 32 extends from the fourth side 24thereof.

The side panels 26, 28, 30 and 32 are provided to form the side walls4-7 of the container 2 and are demarcated further by side fold lines 34,36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. As illustrated, the tabs 15 and 16 areprovided adjacent to the opposite side panels 26 and 30, respectively.Each of the trapezoidal side panels 26, 28, 30 and 32 progressivelytapers in the direction away from the base panel 12 to the outerperiphery 10. Between each two adjacent trapezoidal side panels 26 and28, 28 and 30, 30 and 32, and 32 and 28 is a respective set of foursubstantially triangular web panels hingedly connected to each other.Each of the triangular web panels widens toward the periphery 10 from anacute angle apex at a respective corner of the base panel 12. Each setof the triangular web panels is depicted with the reference characters50A, 52A, 54A and 56A; 58A, 60A, 62A and 64A; 50B, 52B, 54B and 56B; and58B, 60B, 62B and 64B. The above triangular web panels are demarcated atleast in part by web fold lines 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 80, 82, 84, 86and 88. Furthermore, tab fold lines 89 and 90 extend across a root ofeach tab 15 and 16.

The blank 8 is crossed by a medial fold line 96 so as to divide each ofthe second pair of the truncated trapezoidal side panels 28 and 32 alongits intended height into two substantially equal areas 28A, 28B and 32A,32B and to divide the base pane 12 into two substantially equalrectangles. In other words, the median fold line 96 extendssubstantially along an axis of symmetry of the opposite side panels 28and 32 and the base panel 12. Furthermore, the base panel 12 is crossedwith two diagonal first and second bottom fold lines 92 and 94.Consequently, if the base panel 12 is square, according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the bottom fold lines 92, 94 andthe median fold line 96 extend substantially along axes of symmetry ofthe base panel 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 7, each of angles A defined between the fold lines 20 and 38, 20and 40, 22 and 46, and 22 and 48 is substantially 78°, each of angles Bdefined between the fold lines 70 and 38, 72 and 40, 82 and 46, and 84and 48 is substantially 31°, each of angles C defined between the foldlines 70 and 68, 72 and 74, 80 and 82, and 84 and 86 is substantially26.5°, each of angles D defined between the fold lines 66 and 68, 74 and76, 78 and 80, and 86 and 88 is substantially 25.5°, each of angles Edefined between the fold lines 66 and 36, 76 and 42, 44 and 78, and 34and 88 is substantially 30°, and each of angles F defined between thefold lines 18 and 36, 18 and 34, 20 and 42, and 20 and 44 issubstantially 79°.

The container 2 may be formed from the blank 8 using an origami method.More specifically, the method for forming the container 2, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2A-2F, from the blank 8, shown in FIG. 7, according to oneof the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is schematicallyillustrated in FIGS. 8-10 and comprises the following steps. First, thebase panel 12 is left comparatively flat and the trapezoidal side panels26, 28, 30 and 32 are folded into a somewhat upright position about thefold lines 18, 20, 22 and 24. Then, the blank 8 is folded with respectto the side panels 26 and 30 inwardly of the container 2, leaving twoopposite side panels 28 and 32 of the blank 8. As a result, each of thesecond pair of the side panels 28 and 32 defines one of the first pairof the side walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 and is formed by a singleply of the material forming the blank 8. By contrast, each of the firstpair of the side walls 4 and 6 of the container 2 comprises a pluralityof folded overlying plies including the respective one of the first pairof the side panel 26 and 30. The base panel 12 defines the bottom wall 3formed by a single ply of the material forming the blank 8.

More specifically, the forming of the side wall 4 including the sidepanel 26 according to one of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention is schematically depicted in detail in FIGS. 8-10. Thesubstantially similar procedure is carried out for the side wall 6 ofthe container 2 including the side panel 30. First, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the triangular web panel 54A is folded about the fold line 68internally of the side panel 28, to overlie the triangular web panel52A. Similarly, the triangular web panel 62B is folded about the foldline 86 to overlie the triangular web panel 60B. Then, the overlying webpanels 52A and 54A are folded inwardly about the fold lines 66 and 70,respectively, so that the web panel 52A juxtaposes the web panel 50A.Next, the adjacent web panels 50A and 56A are folded inwardly about thefold lines 36 and 38, respectively, so that the overlying web panels 52Aand 54A are now sandwiched between the adjacent and overlying web panels50A, 56A and the side panel 26, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 9.Subsequently, the overlying web panels 60B and 62B are folded inwardlyabout the fold lines 84 and 88, respectively, so that the web panel 62Bjuxtaposes the web panel 64B. Next, the adjacent web panels 58B and 64Bare folded inwardly about the fold lines 48 and 34, respectively, sothat the overlying web panels 60B and 62B are now sandwiched between theadjacent and overlying web panels 58B, 64B and the web panel 56A, asschematically illustrated in FIG. 10. In other words, the folded webpanels 50A, 52A, 54A and 56A are sandwiched between the web panels 58B,60B, 62B and 64B, and the side panel 26. Then, the tab 15 is foldedinwardly of the container 2 about the fold line 89 toward the side panel26 so as to overlie the web panel 58B and to sandwich the web panels50A, 52A, 54A, 56A and 58B, 60B, 62B, 64B between the side panel 26 andthe tab 15. Finally, the tab 15 and the web panels 50A, 52A, 54A, 56Aand 58B, 60B, 62B, 64B are secured to the side panel 26 by anyappropriate means known in the art, such as adhesive bonding, thusdefining the side wall 4 of the container 2. It would be appreciatedthat any other sequence of folding the web panels 50A, 52A, 54A, 56A and58B, 60B, 62B, 64B inwardly of the container 2 adjacent to the sidepanel 26 to form the side wall 4 is within the scope of the presentinvention.

As noted above, the substantially similar procedure is carried out forthe side wall 6 of the container 2 including the side panel 30. In otherwords, the side wall 6 is defined by the side panel 30, the tab 16 andthe web panels 50B, 52B, 54B, 5BA and 58A, 60A, 62A, 64A sandwichedbetween the side panel 30 and the tab 16.

It will be appreciated that the method for forming the container 2, asshown in FIGS. 8-10, from the blank 8, shown in FIG. 7, represents justone of a number of other methods of forming the container 2 from theblank 8. Any other appropriate method or sequence of folding the blank 8to form the container 2 is within the scope of the present invention. Itwill be also appreciated that the particular method for forming thecontainer 2 from the blank 8 is generally a matter of preference orchoice.

The blank 8 may be imprinted, embossed or otherwise decorated withindicia such as a company logo, promotional material, or other data. Thefoldable blank 8 forming the container 2 can be packaged, stored andfurnished in substantially flat form and can be easily assembled.

In FIGS. 1 and 2A-2F the container 2 is shown in an operational,deployed state for use, for example, as a vase for flowers which can benatural since the container 2 may be impervious to water. The fold line96 together with the fold lines 92 and 94 give the container 2 aconcertina-like construction enabling it to be folded into a flat state(folded position) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The container 2 can beexpanded (for example by manual pull) from the folded position into theexpanded position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2D). The resilienceprovided by the nature of the material, for example a paper, forming theblank 8 combined with the effect of the fold lines 92, 94 and 96 in thebase panel 12 can cause or assist the container 2 to spring or pop upfrom its folded position in FIGS. 4 and 5 into the expanded position inFIGS. 1 and 2A-2D, with the base panel 12 adopting a convex (or slightlyconvex) configuration inwardly of the container 2.

A decorative surrounding band 102 (shown in FIG. 4) may surround theflat container 2 to hold it in the folded position until the expandedcontainer 2 is needed. In the expanded state of the container 2 as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2A-2F, the inclination angle between the areas 28A and28B, and 32A and 32B may be obtuse.

The container 2 may be supplied with flowers, for example a bouquet, toprovide a readily utilizable vase. Such a vase formed from a one-piecesheet will not leak easily because the blank 8 can be made of a waterimpermeable material. The geometry of the side panels and the web panelsof single-piece blank 8 and the folding arrangement of the container 2is such that it allows the container 2 to hold a level of water highenough for the bouquet of natural flowers without leaking the water.

The present invention therefore provides a foldable container which caneasily receive printing to promote goods and/or services, convey amessage or present a unique design. The construction and operation of acontainer assembly can be packaged, stored and shipped in asubstantially flat condition, and can be easily assembled without theuse of tools or other fastener means for assembling the same. It will beappreciated that the present invention presents a container of verysimple design and construction that is inexpensive to produce from asingle-piece blank.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for the purpose of illustration inaccordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiment disclosed hereinabove was chosen inorder to best illustrate the principles of the present invention and itspractical application to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in theart to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated,as long as the principles described herein are followed. Thus, changescan be made in the above-described invention without departing from theintent and scope thereof. It is also intended that the scope of thepresent invention be defined by the claims appended thereto.

1. A container movable between an expanded position and a foldedposition, said container comprising: a substantially rectangular bottomwall defined by four sides thereof; four side walls hingedly connectedto each other and to said bottom wall, said four side walls includingfirst and second pairs of opposite side walls; said side walls havingtop edges defining an open top of said container; a median fold linecrossing said second pair of opposite side walls and said bottom wall sothat each of said opposite side walls and said bottom wall beingfoldable along said median fold line; and two bottom fold lines formedon said bottom wall and extending substantially diagonally across saidbottom wall so that said bottom wall being foldable along said bottomfold lines.
 2. The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said secondpair of opposite side walls and said bottom wall are foldable along saidmedian fold line inwardly to said container.
 3. The container as definedin claim 2, wherein said bottom wall is foldable along said bottom foldlines inwardly to said container.
 4. The container as defined in claim1, wherein said bottom wall is substantially square in shape.
 5. Thecontainer as defined in claim 1, wherein said side walls aresubstantially trapezoidal in shape so that parallel sides of saidtrapezoidal side walls extend along said sides of said bottom wall. 6.The container as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said trapezoidalside walls progressively tapers in the direction away from said bottomwall.
 7. The container as defined in claim 6, wherein said median foldline extends across said opposite side walls and said bottom wallsubstantially along axes of symmetry thereof.
 8. The container asdefined in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of a substantiallyflat single-piece blank.
 9. The container as defined in claim 8, whereinsaid blank is made from water-impermeable material.
 10. The container asdefined in claim 1, wherein said container is formed from a blank of asubstantially flat single-piece sheet of foldable material, said blankcomprising: a substantially rectangular base panel defining said bottomwall and having four sides; four side panels radially outwardlyextending from corresponding sides of said base panel and separatedtherefrom by four base fold lines defining said four sides of said basepanel, said four side panels including first and second pairs ofopposite side panels; four sets of web panels each provided between eachtwo of said side panels, each of said sets of web panels including aplurality of web panels hingedly connected to each other; a plurality offold lines radially outwardly extending from said bottom panel forseparating said sets of web panels and said side panels; said medianfold line crossing said second pair of opposite side panels and saidbase panel so that each of said second pair of opposite side panels andsaid base panel being foldable along said median fold line; wherein eachof said second pair of said opposite side walls is defined solely by oneof said second pair of said opposite side panels; and wherein each ofsaid first pair of opposite side walls is defined by one of said firstpair of opposite side panels and two sets of said web panels foldedabout said web fold lines and said side fold lines adjacent tocorresponding one of said first pair of opposite side panels and securedthereto.
 11. The blank as defined in claim 10, wherein said web panelsare substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a peripheryof said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of saidbase panel.
 12. The blank as defined in claim 10, wherein each of saidsets of web panels includes four web panels.
 13. The blank as defined inclaim 12, wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shapeso as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apexat a respective corner of said base panel.
 14. A blank for forming afoldable container, said blank comprising: a substantially rectangularbase panel having four sides; four side panels radially outwardlyextending from corresponding sides of said base panel and separatedtherefrom by four base fold lines defining said four sides of said basepanel, said four side panels including first and second pairs ofopposite side panels; four sets of web panels each provided between eachtwo of said side panels, each of said sets of web panels including aplurality of web panels hingedly connected to each other along web foldlines; a plurality of side fold lines radially outwardly extending fromsaid bottom panel for separating said sets of web panels and said sidepanels; a median fold line crossing said second pair of opposite sidepanels and said base panel so that each of said second pair of oppositeside panels and said base panel being foldable along said median foldline; and two bottom fold lines formed on said bottom panel andextending substantially diagonally across said base panel so that saidbase panel being foldable along said bottom fold lines; said blank beingformed from a substantially flat single-piece sheet of foldablematerial.
 15. The blank as defined in claim 14, wherein said web panelsare substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a peripheryof said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of saidbase panel.
 16. The blank as defined in claim 14, wherein each of saidsets of web panels includes four web panels.
 17. The blank as defined inclaim 16, wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shapeso as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apexat a respective corner of said base panel.
 18. The blank as defined inclaim 14, wherein said base panel is substantially square in shape. 19.The blank as defined in claim 14, wherein said side panels aresubstantially trapezoidal in shape so that parallel sides of saidtrapezoidal side panels extend along said sides of said base panel. 20.The blank as defined in claim 19, wherein each of said trapezoidal sidewalls progressively tapers in the direction away from said base panel.21. The blank as defined in claim 14, wherein said median fold lineextends across said second pair of opposite side panels and said basepanel substantially along axes of symmetry thereof.
 22. The blank asdefined in claim 14, wherein said sheet of said blank is made fromwater-impermeable material.
 23. The blank as defined in claim 14,further comprising at least two tabs extending radially outwardly froman outer periphery of said blank at locations adjacent to the otheropposite pair of said side panels and hingedly connected thereto. 24.The blank as defined in claim 14, wherein said blank is foldable to forma container comprising: a substantially rectangular single-ply bottomwall defined by said base panel; four side walls hingedly connected toeach other and to said bottom wall, said side walls having top edgesdefining an open top of said container, said four side walls includingfirst and second pair of opposite side walls; wherein each of saidsecond pair of said opposite side walls is defined solely by one of saidsecond pair of opposite side panels; wherein each of said first pair ofopposite side walls is defined by one of said first pair of oppositeside panels and two sets of said web panels folded about said web foldlines and said side fold lines adjacent to each of said first pair ofopposite side panels and secured thereto.